Tree-irrigator



' (No Modem H. KLING.

TREE IRRIGATOR.

No. 588,278. 7 Patented Aug. 17,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN KLING, OF LARNED, KANSAS.

TREE-IRRIGATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 588,278, dated August17, 1897. Application filed February 25,1897. Serial No. 624,988. (Nomodel.)

leaves, twigs, and the like, .whi'chvmayIenter the tube through itsupper end or through the perforations provided for the escape of thecontents-may be withdrawn with facility to avoid choking theoutlet-perforations and preserve the apparatus in operative condition.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing descripti0n,and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of an irrigating device constructedin accordance with my invention arranged inoperative position withrelation to a tree-trunk.- Fig. 2

is central sectional'view of theirrigator. Fig. 3 is a detail View ofthe dirt receptacle or bucket detached. Fig. tis a view of thelower endof an irrigating-tube, which is pointed or reduced to facilitate itsinsertion into the soil. Similar numerals of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a tube, of uniform diameter throughout, which is providedat its lower end and at one side, the latter being adapted to be placedtoward the tree or shrub to be watered, with perforations adapted toallow the escape of the contents. In the construction illustrated theshell of the tube is provided with large openings 2, covered by a screen3, of foraminous or reticulated construction, to prevent the roots ofthe tree or shrub from penetrating to the interior of the tube, thisconstruction being preferredwhen..-

v the body of the tube is constructed ofsheet metal, whereas when thetube is constructed of cast metal the fine perforations may be formeddirectly therein.

The upper'end of the tube is provided with a shoulder or enlargement 4,to facilitate the withdrawal of the tube from the soil when suchoperation isdesired, and a hinged lid or cover is provided to close saidupper end and prevent, as far as possible, the entrance of dirt, such asleaves.

Fitted in the tube is a dirt receptacle or bucket 6, preferably flangedat its lower end, as shown at 7, and arranged to rest upon a support onthe wall of 'thetube contiguous to the bottom of the latter, saidsupport, in the construction illustrated, consisting of an inwardlyextending ledge. This support maintains the bottom of the receptacle outof contact with the perforated bottom of the tube.

The receptacle is perforated in its bottom and sides, the openings beingof small diameter sufficient to allow the liquid contents of the tube topass therethrough without permitting dirt which may be received thereinto escape, and attached to the bucket is a stem or rod 8, held in placeat its lower end by cooperating nuts 9 and 10 and terminating at itsupper end in a handhold or crossbar 11, the length of the stem or rodbeing such as to allow the handhold or cross-bar to be arrangedbelow-the plane of the top or cover when the receptacle is arranged uponthe support at the bottom of the tube.

From the above description it will be seen that when fine earth, leaves,and other obstructions gain access to the interior of the tube they arecaught by the receptacle and may be readily withdrawn therefrom tomaintain the interior of the tube in condition to receive water andallow the same to pass freely through theperforations provided for thatpurpose. It is unnecessary when a receptacle of the constructiondescribed is employed to remove the tube at intervals in order to cleanits interior.

It is obvious that the tube may be arranged at an inclination to carrythe water from a point somewhat remote from the trunk of the treeapproximately to a point under ,said trunk, in which case the lid orcoverthereof will be disposed to occupy a position in the plane of orparallel with the surface of the soil.

It will be obvious, furthermore, that while the use of upper'and lowernuts 9 andlO to 2 I77 7" f o aw it is common in various arts to soconstruct a part which it is desired to detachably connect to another.Furthermore, it will be understood that the cross-bar construction ofthe handle is not indispensable, but is employed in the constructionillustrated as providing a substantial handhold of which all of thepoints are at a common distance from the plane of the lid or cover, andwhich, therefore, can be readily grasped when it is desired to removethe bucket without interferiug with the introduction of water forirrigating purposes.

In practice it is frequently desirable to arrange a series of tubes incommunication with a water-supply conveyer or conduit or in position toreceive water from a stream, particularly when a row or large number oftrees or plants are to be watered, and the lids or covers are preferablymade water-tight to provide for excluding water when not required, suchexclusion being desirable to prevent water from flowing into near tubes,or those located nearer to the source of supply, until after the remotetubes, or those located farther from the source, have received theirproper supply. It is also preferable to hinge the lid or cover at theperforated side of the tube, whereby it opens from the direction inwhich the water is supplied, to avoid disposing the lid or cover as anobstruction to the entrance of the water, particularly when the latteris supplied by an open stream or its equivalent. The extent of theperforated side of the tube may be varied to suit the kind of tree orplant in connection with which it is to be used, the drawing, however,showing perforations extending approximately for two-thirds of thelength of the tube from its bottom upward.

Various other changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination withan irrigating-tube provided in its bottom with outlet-perforations, of aperforated receptacle normally located in the tube near and out ofcontact with its bottom, and adapted to be withdrawn to removeaccumulations of dirt gaining access to the interior of the tube,substantially as specified.

2. The combination with an irrigating-tube having outlet-perforations,of a receptacle normally arranged in the tube near its bottom andprovided with side and bottom perforations, and a stem or rod attachedto the receptacle and extending to apoint contiguous to the top of thetube, substantially as specified.

3. An irrigating device comprising a tube provided withoutlet-perforations and having, near the plane of its bottom, a support,and a receptacle normally arranged upon said support with its bottom outof contact with that of the tube and provided with perforations to allowthe contents of the tube to pass therethrough, and means, as a rod orstem, whereby the receptacle may be withdrawn from the tube,substantially as specified.

4. An irrigating device comprising a tube provided withoutlet-perforations and having, at its upper end, a shoulder orenlargement to facilitate withdrawal thereof from the soil, a hinged lidor cover for normally closing the upper end of the tube, and areceptacle or bucket removably fitted in the tube and provided with arod or stem terminating near the plane of the top or cover,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN KLING.

Witnesses:

W. M. BICKFORD, A. B. LINN.

